Ages and Stages: the cultural value of older people's experiences of theatre making
Lead Research Organisation:
Keele University
Department Name: Research Institute for Social Sciences
Abstract
This proposal aims to assess the cultural value of older people's participation in theatre making. It will do so through a participatory action research approach, framed by a perspective which places emphasis on the skills, abilities and capacities of older people rather than automatically framing ageing as 'a problem to be solved' in contemporary society.
The proposal is inspired by our interdisciplinary 'Ages and Stages' project, which has consisted of two related but distinct phases. The first phase (October 2009-July 2012, funded by the NDA programme) explored representations of age and ageing in the Victoria/New Vic Theatre's social documentaries and the role that theatre has played in the lives of local older people. Archival and qualitative data was brought together in the final year of the project to create a new verbatim social documentary performance, 'Our Age, Our Stage', exploring ageing, intergenerational relations and the role the theatre has played - and continues to play - in the creative life of the people of Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire. The second phase (August 2012-July 2013, funded by the AHRC follow-on scheme) has focused on translational work, including evolving the original 'Ages and Stages' group into the 'Ages and Stages Company' and devising an interactive, forum theatre piece about intergenerational relationships - Happy Returns. Both phases have been documented through film, ethnographic notes and diary keeping.
The proposed case study of 'Ages and Stages' will involve undertaking secondary analysis of existing research materials and developing the 'Ages and Stages Company' into a 'company of researchers', who will work with us to identify - and to show through live performance - the cultural value of what they have been involved in. Company members will engage in a series of recorded research discussions with each other (both one-to-one and group) exploring their experiences of Ages and Stages; the impacts it has had on themselves; and on others (e.g. their families; friends; the younger people they have performed with). Arising out of these discussions, the Company will then select and agree the issues to be developed into a new, short, piece to be performed before Christmas 2013 to invited audiences of practitioners, policy makes and academic colleagues. The performance/s will be filmed and turned into a DVD.
In the New Year, the Company will come back together to co-evaluate the research process. These sessions will also be digitally recorded, transcribed and analysed and, together with the secondary analyses of existing research materials, will form the basis for the final report. An invited workshop (including members of the Advisory Group) will conclude the project in May 2014. The piece will be performed at this workshop as a stimulus to further discussions about the cultural value of theatre making with, and for, older people and, if awarded, the workshop will also include findings from the proposed linked Critical Review on 'Ageing, Drama and Creativity'.
The proposal is inspired by our interdisciplinary 'Ages and Stages' project, which has consisted of two related but distinct phases. The first phase (October 2009-July 2012, funded by the NDA programme) explored representations of age and ageing in the Victoria/New Vic Theatre's social documentaries and the role that theatre has played in the lives of local older people. Archival and qualitative data was brought together in the final year of the project to create a new verbatim social documentary performance, 'Our Age, Our Stage', exploring ageing, intergenerational relations and the role the theatre has played - and continues to play - in the creative life of the people of Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire. The second phase (August 2012-July 2013, funded by the AHRC follow-on scheme) has focused on translational work, including evolving the original 'Ages and Stages' group into the 'Ages and Stages Company' and devising an interactive, forum theatre piece about intergenerational relationships - Happy Returns. Both phases have been documented through film, ethnographic notes and diary keeping.
The proposed case study of 'Ages and Stages' will involve undertaking secondary analysis of existing research materials and developing the 'Ages and Stages Company' into a 'company of researchers', who will work with us to identify - and to show through live performance - the cultural value of what they have been involved in. Company members will engage in a series of recorded research discussions with each other (both one-to-one and group) exploring their experiences of Ages and Stages; the impacts it has had on themselves; and on others (e.g. their families; friends; the younger people they have performed with). Arising out of these discussions, the Company will then select and agree the issues to be developed into a new, short, piece to be performed before Christmas 2013 to invited audiences of practitioners, policy makes and academic colleagues. The performance/s will be filmed and turned into a DVD.
In the New Year, the Company will come back together to co-evaluate the research process. These sessions will also be digitally recorded, transcribed and analysed and, together with the secondary analyses of existing research materials, will form the basis for the final report. An invited workshop (including members of the Advisory Group) will conclude the project in May 2014. The piece will be performed at this workshop as a stimulus to further discussions about the cultural value of theatre making with, and for, older people and, if awarded, the workshop will also include findings from the proposed linked Critical Review on 'Ageing, Drama and Creativity'.
Planned Impact
This project will be of interest and benefit to a range of individuals, groups and organisations. We anticipate that it will have potential policy and/or practice impact on:
- Older people.
- Professionals working with older people in the arts; health and social care; the voluntary sector.
- Policy-makers working at local, regional and national levels and in voluntary agencies.
Implications for older people:
- The older people who participate in this project will be trained to be researcher-performers who have the skills and abilities to contribute not only to ongoing cultural developments in the local area (eg. the new Arts Council funded three-year Creative People, Creative Places project; and proposed Creative Age Festival being scoped out in July 2013) but also, potentially, to future research projects. The research training they gain through this project will build on and add to the substantial performance training and skills they have received through their participation in the 'Ages and Stages' project so far.
- The project will also be of benefit to older people more widely through highlighting the cultural value of theatre making for older participants and focusing on their skills, abilities and capacities. The participatory action methodology will provide a model that arts professionals and organisations could use when working with older people.
Implications for professionals and policy makers:
- The performance piece (which will be performed to invited audiences including practitioners and policy makers and will also be available on DVD), our website and final report are designed to stimulate ongoing debate amongst professionals and policy makers about the dimensions of cultural value and how it is experienced and understood by older people.
- We will use the established links we (both the University and the New Vic) have to enable the project's findings to be brought to the attention of policy makers and practitioners locally, nationally and internationally - e.g. through Prof Bernard's involvement with the UK Urban Ageing Consortium's 'Network of Age Friendly Cities' and her particular links with the 'cultural offer for older people' strand [see: http://www.bjf.org.uk/age-friendly/projects/uk-urban-ageing-consortium]; Ms Rezzano's links with the 'Theatre in Education' network; through the Centre for Intergenerational Practice and the newly developed European Certificate in Intergenerational learning for which the Ages and Stages pilot training course is a case study [see: http://www.centreforip. org.uk/international/europe/ecil]); through our linked CIHR/NDA project with the University of Alberta, Canada (Health and Creative Aging: Theatre as a Pathway to Healthy Aging).
- Older people.
- Professionals working with older people in the arts; health and social care; the voluntary sector.
- Policy-makers working at local, regional and national levels and in voluntary agencies.
Implications for older people:
- The older people who participate in this project will be trained to be researcher-performers who have the skills and abilities to contribute not only to ongoing cultural developments in the local area (eg. the new Arts Council funded three-year Creative People, Creative Places project; and proposed Creative Age Festival being scoped out in July 2013) but also, potentially, to future research projects. The research training they gain through this project will build on and add to the substantial performance training and skills they have received through their participation in the 'Ages and Stages' project so far.
- The project will also be of benefit to older people more widely through highlighting the cultural value of theatre making for older participants and focusing on their skills, abilities and capacities. The participatory action methodology will provide a model that arts professionals and organisations could use when working with older people.
Implications for professionals and policy makers:
- The performance piece (which will be performed to invited audiences including practitioners and policy makers and will also be available on DVD), our website and final report are designed to stimulate ongoing debate amongst professionals and policy makers about the dimensions of cultural value and how it is experienced and understood by older people.
- We will use the established links we (both the University and the New Vic) have to enable the project's findings to be brought to the attention of policy makers and practitioners locally, nationally and internationally - e.g. through Prof Bernard's involvement with the UK Urban Ageing Consortium's 'Network of Age Friendly Cities' and her particular links with the 'cultural offer for older people' strand [see: http://www.bjf.org.uk/age-friendly/projects/uk-urban-ageing-consortium]; Ms Rezzano's links with the 'Theatre in Education' network; through the Centre for Intergenerational Practice and the newly developed European Certificate in Intergenerational learning for which the Ages and Stages pilot training course is a case study [see: http://www.centreforip. org.uk/international/europe/ecil]); through our linked CIHR/NDA project with the University of Alberta, Canada (Health and Creative Aging: Theatre as a Pathway to Healthy Aging).
Organisations
- Keele University (Lead Research Organisation)
- AGE UK (Collaboration)
- Staffordshire Film Archive (Collaboration)
- Restoke (Collaboration)
- Royal National Theatre (Collaboration)
- Hullabaloo Arts Collective (Collaboration)
- STAFFORDSHIRE UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- KEELE UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Letting in the Light (Collaboration)
- Peace Through Folk Choir (Collaboration)
- EngAGE Stoke-on-Trent (Collaboration)
- Potteries Museum and Art Gallery (Collaboration)
- FRONTLINEdance (Collaboration)
- Beth Johnson Foundation (Collaboration)
- B-Arts (Collaboration)
- Mitchell Arts Centre (Collaboration)
- STOKE-ON-TRENT CITY COUNCIL (Collaboration)
- Arts Council England (Collaboration)
- University of Alberta (Collaboration)
- New Victoria Theatre (Project Partner)
People |
ORCID iD |
Miriam Bernard (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
BERNARD M
(2014)
Ages and Stages : the place of theatre in the lives of older people
in Ageing and Society
Bernard, M.
(2014)
Ages and Stages: from formal research to public performances
in 8th International Conference on Cultural Gerontology
Bernard, M
(2014)
Ages and Stages: the cultural value of older people's experiences of theatre making
in 43rd Annual Conference of the British Society of Gerontology
Bernard, M.
(2014)
Cultural Value Projects: Interim Report for Advisory Group
Amigoni, D.
(2014)
Beyond scholarly outputs: the benefits and risks of public engagement
in 8th International Conference on Cultural Gerontology
Bernard, M
(2015)
Arts for Ageing Society': Japan Study Tour, April 11-18th 2015
in Generations Review
Bernard, M
(2015)
Routledge Handbook of Cultural Gerontology
Bernard, M
(2016)
Forschungsfeld Kulturgeragogik - Research in Cultural Geragogy
Title | Live Age Festival |
Description | A two-day (Oct 1st and 2nd) Festival celebrating and showcasing the work and talents of local older people, arts organisations and practitioners across Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire. Arose from the initial scoping meeting held as part of the Ages and Stages 'follow on' project and was co-ordinated by Mim Bernard (Ages & Stages PI), Jill Rezzano (Ages & Stages Co-I) and Jackie Reynolds (RA/maternity cover on follow-on project). Included an 'Ages & Stages Company' performance of 'Welcome to Silence' which was seen live by satellite link-up with partner project at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. |
Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
Year Produced | 2014 |
Impact | Organisation involved 14 partner organisations and over 300 people took part over the two days. We anticipate there may be sufficient interest and demand for this to become an annual event in the area. |
Title | Out of the Box - DVD |
Description | DVD of the one-day Ages and Stages Symposium (May 9th 2014) marking the conclusion of our two Cultural Value Projects. DVD captures the performances and the discussions with audience, speakers and cast members. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2014 |
Impact | Generated considerable discussion on the day and requests for further information about the projects/reports. |
Title | Out of the Box 1, 2 and 3 - performance and scripts |
Description | Three short pieces designed to stimulate discussion amongst audience at Symposium concluding our two 'Cultural Value' projects: May 9th, 2014 at the New Vic Theatre. |
Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
Year Produced | 2014 |
Impact | Stimulated considerable discussion and debate about the cultural value older people derive from involvement in theatre/drama and what older people understand by the term 'cultural value'. |
Title | Welcome to Silence - DVD |
Description | DVD recording the performance at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2013 |
Impact | Stimulated further interest in the projects and in the 'Ages and Stages Company' |
URL | http://www.royalexchange.co.uk/futureworlds |
Title | Welcome to Silence - script and performance |
Description | In the summer of 2013, Ages and Stages were invited by the Royal Exchange Theatre's Education Department to take part in their FutureWorlds Festival, the theme of which was '2020'. The Festival was part of Manchester's ongoing 'Truth about Youth' programme funded by the Co-operative Foundation. Seven UK cities have been running this programme since 2009. The Ages and Stages Company was joined by 11 members of the New Vic Youth Theatre (aged 13-19) to develop and devise this new 20-minute 'pop-up' piece. |
Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
Year Produced | 2013 |
Impact | Stimulated discussion and thinking amongst audience and performers. |
Description | The findings challenge the ageist assumptions that older people are no longer capable of - or interested in - cultural engagement in later life. |
Exploitation Route | Through the growing academic and practical interest in the cultural engagement of older people. |
Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Creative Economy Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
URL | http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/projects?ref=AH%2FL006103%2F1 |
Description | To underpin further work and to establish the New Vic Ages and Stages Company as a freestanding community group. |
First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
Sector | Creative Economy,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal |
Description | AHRC Cultural Value Project - Research Development Award |
Amount | £28,521 (GBP) |
Funding ID | AH/L006103/1 |
Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2013 |
End | 05/2014 |
Description | Health and Creative Aging: Theatre as a Pathway to Healthy Aging |
Organisation | University of Alberta |
Country | Canada |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Funded under the NDA/Canadian Institutes of Health Research joint initiative, this has involved exchange of information between the two projects; visits by members of each team to the other project/country; joint presentations and symposia at various conferences; and (in preparation) joint articles. |
Collaborator Contribution | Funded under the NDA/Canadian Institutes of Health Research joint initiative, this has involved exchange of information between the two projects; visits by members of each team to the other project/country; joint presentations and symposia at various conferences; and (in preparation) joint articles. |
Impact | 2012 - presentations at BSG conference, Keele University 2013 - presentations at BSG conference, Oxford University 2014 - presentations at European Cultural Gerontology conference, NUI Galway. |
Start Year | 2009 |
Description | Live Age Festival 2015 |
Organisation | Age UK |
Department | Age UK North Staffordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The first 'Ages & Stages' project; the follow-on project; and the linked project with Canada were the genesis of the first Live Age Festival held in 2014. The ideas for a Festival were scoped out as part of the follow-on project: the first Festival was held in Oct 2014 and the second in Oct 2015. Miriam Bernard, Jill Rezzano and Jackie Reynolds continued in 2015 as co-organisers of the Festival, coordinating the Planning Group and expanding the numbers of partners involved as well as the extent and reach of the Festival (over 3 days and in the Staffordshire Moorlands as well as the City). |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners are involved on the Planning Group; in delivering Festival activities; and in providing substantial in-kind support (including free venues). |
Impact | This collaboration/partnership has led to the Live Age Festival becoming an annual event which will run again in 2016. It is reaching more people and organisations each time. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Live Age Festival 2015 |
Organisation | Arts Council England |
Department | New Vic Theatre |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The first 'Ages & Stages' project; the follow-on project; and the linked project with Canada were the genesis of the first Live Age Festival held in 2014. The ideas for a Festival were scoped out as part of the follow-on project: the first Festival was held in Oct 2014 and the second in Oct 2015. Miriam Bernard, Jill Rezzano and Jackie Reynolds continued in 2015 as co-organisers of the Festival, coordinating the Planning Group and expanding the numbers of partners involved as well as the extent and reach of the Festival (over 3 days and in the Staffordshire Moorlands as well as the City). |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners are involved on the Planning Group; in delivering Festival activities; and in providing substantial in-kind support (including free venues). |
Impact | This collaboration/partnership has led to the Live Age Festival becoming an annual event which will run again in 2016. It is reaching more people and organisations each time. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Live Age Festival 2015 |
Organisation | B-Arts |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The first 'Ages & Stages' project; the follow-on project; and the linked project with Canada were the genesis of the first Live Age Festival held in 2014. The ideas for a Festival were scoped out as part of the follow-on project: the first Festival was held in Oct 2014 and the second in Oct 2015. Miriam Bernard, Jill Rezzano and Jackie Reynolds continued in 2015 as co-organisers of the Festival, coordinating the Planning Group and expanding the numbers of partners involved as well as the extent and reach of the Festival (over 3 days and in the Staffordshire Moorlands as well as the City). |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners are involved on the Planning Group; in delivering Festival activities; and in providing substantial in-kind support (including free venues). |
Impact | This collaboration/partnership has led to the Live Age Festival becoming an annual event which will run again in 2016. It is reaching more people and organisations each time. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Live Age Festival 2015 |
Organisation | Beth Johnson Foundation |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The first 'Ages & Stages' project; the follow-on project; and the linked project with Canada were the genesis of the first Live Age Festival held in 2014. The ideas for a Festival were scoped out as part of the follow-on project: the first Festival was held in Oct 2014 and the second in Oct 2015. Miriam Bernard, Jill Rezzano and Jackie Reynolds continued in 2015 as co-organisers of the Festival, coordinating the Planning Group and expanding the numbers of partners involved as well as the extent and reach of the Festival (over 3 days and in the Staffordshire Moorlands as well as the City). |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners are involved on the Planning Group; in delivering Festival activities; and in providing substantial in-kind support (including free venues). |
Impact | This collaboration/partnership has led to the Live Age Festival becoming an annual event which will run again in 2016. It is reaching more people and organisations each time. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Live Age Festival 2015 |
Organisation | EngAGE Stoke-on-Trent |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The first 'Ages & Stages' project; the follow-on project; and the linked project with Canada were the genesis of the first Live Age Festival held in 2014. The ideas for a Festival were scoped out as part of the follow-on project: the first Festival was held in Oct 2014 and the second in Oct 2015. Miriam Bernard, Jill Rezzano and Jackie Reynolds continued in 2015 as co-organisers of the Festival, coordinating the Planning Group and expanding the numbers of partners involved as well as the extent and reach of the Festival (over 3 days and in the Staffordshire Moorlands as well as the City). |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners are involved on the Planning Group; in delivering Festival activities; and in providing substantial in-kind support (including free venues). |
Impact | This collaboration/partnership has led to the Live Age Festival becoming an annual event which will run again in 2016. It is reaching more people and organisations each time. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Live Age Festival 2015 |
Organisation | FRONTLINEdance |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The first 'Ages & Stages' project; the follow-on project; and the linked project with Canada were the genesis of the first Live Age Festival held in 2014. The ideas for a Festival were scoped out as part of the follow-on project: the first Festival was held in Oct 2014 and the second in Oct 2015. Miriam Bernard, Jill Rezzano and Jackie Reynolds continued in 2015 as co-organisers of the Festival, coordinating the Planning Group and expanding the numbers of partners involved as well as the extent and reach of the Festival (over 3 days and in the Staffordshire Moorlands as well as the City). |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners are involved on the Planning Group; in delivering Festival activities; and in providing substantial in-kind support (including free venues). |
Impact | This collaboration/partnership has led to the Live Age Festival becoming an annual event which will run again in 2016. It is reaching more people and organisations each time. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Live Age Festival 2015 |
Organisation | Hullabaloo Arts Collective |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The first 'Ages & Stages' project; the follow-on project; and the linked project with Canada were the genesis of the first Live Age Festival held in 2014. The ideas for a Festival were scoped out as part of the follow-on project: the first Festival was held in Oct 2014 and the second in Oct 2015. Miriam Bernard, Jill Rezzano and Jackie Reynolds continued in 2015 as co-organisers of the Festival, coordinating the Planning Group and expanding the numbers of partners involved as well as the extent and reach of the Festival (over 3 days and in the Staffordshire Moorlands as well as the City). |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners are involved on the Planning Group; in delivering Festival activities; and in providing substantial in-kind support (including free venues). |
Impact | This collaboration/partnership has led to the Live Age Festival becoming an annual event which will run again in 2016. It is reaching more people and organisations each time. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Live Age Festival 2015 |
Organisation | Keele University |
Department | Arts Keele |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The first 'Ages & Stages' project; the follow-on project; and the linked project with Canada were the genesis of the first Live Age Festival held in 2014. The ideas for a Festival were scoped out as part of the follow-on project: the first Festival was held in Oct 2014 and the second in Oct 2015. Miriam Bernard, Jill Rezzano and Jackie Reynolds continued in 2015 as co-organisers of the Festival, coordinating the Planning Group and expanding the numbers of partners involved as well as the extent and reach of the Festival (over 3 days and in the Staffordshire Moorlands as well as the City). |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners are involved on the Planning Group; in delivering Festival activities; and in providing substantial in-kind support (including free venues). |
Impact | This collaboration/partnership has led to the Live Age Festival becoming an annual event which will run again in 2016. It is reaching more people and organisations each time. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Live Age Festival 2015 |
Organisation | Letting in the Light |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The first 'Ages & Stages' project; the follow-on project; and the linked project with Canada were the genesis of the first Live Age Festival held in 2014. The ideas for a Festival were scoped out as part of the follow-on project: the first Festival was held in Oct 2014 and the second in Oct 2015. Miriam Bernard, Jill Rezzano and Jackie Reynolds continued in 2015 as co-organisers of the Festival, coordinating the Planning Group and expanding the numbers of partners involved as well as the extent and reach of the Festival (over 3 days and in the Staffordshire Moorlands as well as the City). |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners are involved on the Planning Group; in delivering Festival activities; and in providing substantial in-kind support (including free venues). |
Impact | This collaboration/partnership has led to the Live Age Festival becoming an annual event which will run again in 2016. It is reaching more people and organisations each time. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Live Age Festival 2015 |
Organisation | Mitchell Arts Centre |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | The first 'Ages & Stages' project; the follow-on project; and the linked project with Canada were the genesis of the first Live Age Festival held in 2014. The ideas for a Festival were scoped out as part of the follow-on project: the first Festival was held in Oct 2014 and the second in Oct 2015. Miriam Bernard, Jill Rezzano and Jackie Reynolds continued in 2015 as co-organisers of the Festival, coordinating the Planning Group and expanding the numbers of partners involved as well as the extent and reach of the Festival (over 3 days and in the Staffordshire Moorlands as well as the City). |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners are involved on the Planning Group; in delivering Festival activities; and in providing substantial in-kind support (including free venues). |
Impact | This collaboration/partnership has led to the Live Age Festival becoming an annual event which will run again in 2016. It is reaching more people and organisations each time. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Live Age Festival 2015 |
Organisation | Peace Through Folk Choir |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The first 'Ages & Stages' project; the follow-on project; and the linked project with Canada were the genesis of the first Live Age Festival held in 2014. The ideas for a Festival were scoped out as part of the follow-on project: the first Festival was held in Oct 2014 and the second in Oct 2015. Miriam Bernard, Jill Rezzano and Jackie Reynolds continued in 2015 as co-organisers of the Festival, coordinating the Planning Group and expanding the numbers of partners involved as well as the extent and reach of the Festival (over 3 days and in the Staffordshire Moorlands as well as the City). |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners are involved on the Planning Group; in delivering Festival activities; and in providing substantial in-kind support (including free venues). |
Impact | This collaboration/partnership has led to the Live Age Festival becoming an annual event which will run again in 2016. It is reaching more people and organisations each time. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Live Age Festival 2015 |
Organisation | Potteries Museum and Art Gallery |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Learned Society |
PI Contribution | The first 'Ages & Stages' project; the follow-on project; and the linked project with Canada were the genesis of the first Live Age Festival held in 2014. The ideas for a Festival were scoped out as part of the follow-on project: the first Festival was held in Oct 2014 and the second in Oct 2015. Miriam Bernard, Jill Rezzano and Jackie Reynolds continued in 2015 as co-organisers of the Festival, coordinating the Planning Group and expanding the numbers of partners involved as well as the extent and reach of the Festival (over 3 days and in the Staffordshire Moorlands as well as the City). |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners are involved on the Planning Group; in delivering Festival activities; and in providing substantial in-kind support (including free venues). |
Impact | This collaboration/partnership has led to the Live Age Festival becoming an annual event which will run again in 2016. It is reaching more people and organisations each time. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Live Age Festival 2015 |
Organisation | Restoke |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The first 'Ages & Stages' project; the follow-on project; and the linked project with Canada were the genesis of the first Live Age Festival held in 2014. The ideas for a Festival were scoped out as part of the follow-on project: the first Festival was held in Oct 2014 and the second in Oct 2015. Miriam Bernard, Jill Rezzano and Jackie Reynolds continued in 2015 as co-organisers of the Festival, coordinating the Planning Group and expanding the numbers of partners involved as well as the extent and reach of the Festival (over 3 days and in the Staffordshire Moorlands as well as the City). |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners are involved on the Planning Group; in delivering Festival activities; and in providing substantial in-kind support (including free venues). |
Impact | This collaboration/partnership has led to the Live Age Festival becoming an annual event which will run again in 2016. It is reaching more people and organisations each time. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Live Age Festival 2015 |
Organisation | Royal National Theatre |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The first 'Ages & Stages' project; the follow-on project; and the linked project with Canada were the genesis of the first Live Age Festival held in 2014. The ideas for a Festival were scoped out as part of the follow-on project: the first Festival was held in Oct 2014 and the second in Oct 2015. Miriam Bernard, Jill Rezzano and Jackie Reynolds continued in 2015 as co-organisers of the Festival, coordinating the Planning Group and expanding the numbers of partners involved as well as the extent and reach of the Festival (over 3 days and in the Staffordshire Moorlands as well as the City). |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners are involved on the Planning Group; in delivering Festival activities; and in providing substantial in-kind support (including free venues). |
Impact | This collaboration/partnership has led to the Live Age Festival becoming an annual event which will run again in 2016. It is reaching more people and organisations each time. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Live Age Festival 2015 |
Organisation | Staffordshire Film Archive |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | The first 'Ages & Stages' project; the follow-on project; and the linked project with Canada were the genesis of the first Live Age Festival held in 2014. The ideas for a Festival were scoped out as part of the follow-on project: the first Festival was held in Oct 2014 and the second in Oct 2015. Miriam Bernard, Jill Rezzano and Jackie Reynolds continued in 2015 as co-organisers of the Festival, coordinating the Planning Group and expanding the numbers of partners involved as well as the extent and reach of the Festival (over 3 days and in the Staffordshire Moorlands as well as the City). |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners are involved on the Planning Group; in delivering Festival activities; and in providing substantial in-kind support (including free venues). |
Impact | This collaboration/partnership has led to the Live Age Festival becoming an annual event which will run again in 2016. It is reaching more people and organisations each time. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Live Age Festival 2015 |
Organisation | Staffordshire University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The first 'Ages & Stages' project; the follow-on project; and the linked project with Canada were the genesis of the first Live Age Festival held in 2014. The ideas for a Festival were scoped out as part of the follow-on project: the first Festival was held in Oct 2014 and the second in Oct 2015. Miriam Bernard, Jill Rezzano and Jackie Reynolds continued in 2015 as co-organisers of the Festival, coordinating the Planning Group and expanding the numbers of partners involved as well as the extent and reach of the Festival (over 3 days and in the Staffordshire Moorlands as well as the City). |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners are involved on the Planning Group; in delivering Festival activities; and in providing substantial in-kind support (including free venues). |
Impact | This collaboration/partnership has led to the Live Age Festival becoming an annual event which will run again in 2016. It is reaching more people and organisations each time. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Live Age Festival 2015 |
Organisation | Stoke-on-Trent City Council |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | The first 'Ages & Stages' project; the follow-on project; and the linked project with Canada were the genesis of the first Live Age Festival held in 2014. The ideas for a Festival were scoped out as part of the follow-on project: the first Festival was held in Oct 2014 and the second in Oct 2015. Miriam Bernard, Jill Rezzano and Jackie Reynolds continued in 2015 as co-organisers of the Festival, coordinating the Planning Group and expanding the numbers of partners involved as well as the extent and reach of the Festival (over 3 days and in the Staffordshire Moorlands as well as the City). |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners are involved on the Planning Group; in delivering Festival activities; and in providing substantial in-kind support (including free venues). |
Impact | This collaboration/partnership has led to the Live Age Festival becoming an annual event which will run again in 2016. It is reaching more people and organisations each time. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Ages and Stages |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Invited workshop on the project at the 'West Midlands Later Life Forum' ('Things To Do, People To See, Places To Go'), Carr's Lane Church Centre, Birmingham, April 2nd, 2014. Invited workshop on the project at the 'West Midlands Later Life Forum', Birmingham, April 2nd, 2014. Stimulated discussion about ageing and role of theatre/drama in intergenerational relations. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.bvsc.org/event/west-midlands-later-life-forum-annual-assembly |
Description | Ages and Stages Symposium |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | keynote/invited speaker |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This Symposium (May 9th 2014) was organised by the Research Team and marked the conclusion of our two Cultural Value Projects. It consisted of three 'provocations' performed by the 'Ages & Stages Company (Out of the Box, 1, 2 and 3); a formal presentation on the findings from the critical review and guest presentations from Prof Mick Mangan (Loughborough University) and Prof Janet Fast (University of Alberta) - our Canadian partner project. The day generated a great deal of discussion about cultural value; the role of theatre in the lives of older people; approaches to ageing; and innovative research methods/ways of presenting findings. Generated further interest in the Ages and Stages projects and the outcomes/findings; and requests for further information. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Ages and Stages Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited session on the project to BA Drama students, MMU-Cheshire, Crewe, April 3rd 2014. Stimulated discussion and questions about ageing and intergenerational relations. Invited two-hour practical workshop on the project to BA Drama students, MMU-Cheshire, Crewe, April 3rd 2014. Generated interest in intergenerational drama: how it works; what it can achieve etc. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Study tour to Japan on 'Arts and Older People' |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Prof Bernard was invited to participate in the first ever study tour to Japan on 'Arts and Older People', jointly organised and funded by the British Council Japan, the Baring Foundation and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK. She was the only researcher/academic amongst the group of 18. She spoke about the Ages and Stages projects and the Live Age Festival. The purpose of the visit was to inspire and inform Japanese colleagues in the run-up to them hosting the 2020 Olympics alongside which they plan to have a Cultural Olympics featuring creativity in later life. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |